Battle to save historic pools continues despite council rethink

1:15pm Friday 22nd August 2008

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ANGRY residents have vowed to continue their battle against plans to demolish Victorian swimming baths in Forest Hill.

This is despite news that one of the buildings has now been protected from demolition and the council will be forced to rethink its plans.

In February, Lewisham Council agreed to demolish the existing Forest Hill Pools and former girls' industrial home Louise House, in Dartmouth Road.

Residents are angry that the council's development options for the site, offering modern housing and leisure facilities, do not include preserving the pools' historic frontage and Louise House.

But conservation body English Heritage has now listed Louise House as a grade II protected building for its historical significance after an application by campaign group Save the Face of Forest Hill.

The news was welcomed by residents at a public meeting at Forest Hill Methodist Church, in Normanton Street, yesterday (August 21).

More than 100 people attended the meeting and Quetta Kaye, of Little Brownings, Forest Hill, was happy about the decision.

However, the 49-year-old vowed to continue to fight for the preservation of the pools' frontage and said: "People in Forest Hill deperately want and need a swimming pool.

"All my three children, who are now adults, used the pool while growing up and there are lots of families living in the area which would benefit from it.

"But the pool's historical significance cannot be ignored and a modern development will not fit with the surrounding architectural landscape."

Conservation charity the Victorian Society has also welcomed the listing of Louise House.

A charity spokesman said: "We're delighted that Louise House has been protected in this way. The building adds a lot to the character of Forest Hill.

"We hope this support will help Lewisham Council recognize the contribution these buildings can make to the future of Forest Hill."

A spokesman for Lewisham Council admitted at the meeting that the building's protection will have a significant effect on former proposals for the site and will force planners to look at new options.

But Save the Face of Forest Hill has vowed to continue the campaign to save the pools and has collected more than 300 signatures for an online petition and more than 700 signatures for a paper petition.

At the meeting spokesman for the group Tim Walder said: "We are still pursuing the petition to fight for the preservation of the pools' frontage.

"Our position is that a new modern building should be built behind the Victorian facade."

Retired architect Michael Garrard, of Rose Court, Sydenham, echoed the views of the group.

The 78-year-old said: "I believe the facade can be preserved by having varied architecture that combines the old and the new."

A council spokesman claimed that it would not be financially or spatially possible to retain the frontages of the old buildings while providing a high quality leisure facility.

Despite Louise House's protection feedback from a public consultation will be discussed by councillors at the end of the month before a Mayor and Cabinet meeting in September.

To sign the Save the Face of Forest Hill petition, visit gopetition.com/petitions